The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-20
rIIE OLD CHAPEL WAS SOLD, AND SIIoEN OF

ITS BEAUTY.
At this Juncture in their crisis the old chap.
into the hands of private individn.
ais; the extensive wings on either side
were taken down: and nothing OF
the former building left except the main body
spectacle rs one will ever meet with in The
matter of architectural design. This sealed
the fate Of the Greenwood schools for the
time. The town was thus deprived of n house
of suitable size and arrangement for school
purposes In consequence. many small
schools were opened i'm the different parts OF
town, us individual enterprises which con-
tinued for a number OF years. This condition
OF her schools, though unsatisfactory, was not
without It's beneficial results. 1t served to
show that schools. like all other enterprises
under the new regime would have to bc con-
ducted at the risk of the teacher, and on his
individual responsibility. Parents were no
longer willing to tax themselves without n
satisfactory guarantee that an cquivolrnt
would be rendered in the faithful and efficient
instruction and management Of the pupils.
TT WAS DETERMINED To ESTABLISH a HIGH
GRADE SCHOOL.
The common schools. upon which the peo.
tplc, in their poverty, were helping, could not
meet the demands Of the times !; and such in
situations rs were designed to impart higher
education were entirely inaccessible and be.
child of fortune 1t became evident, there
fore, that the only feasible plan to meet the
deficiency was TO establish an institution OF
high grade IN the midst Of the community;
tages as the mass Of the pupils would ever be
able to utilize. TO this end the attention OF
professional teachers was directed, and they
were invited TO occupy this field with an as.
surance of the individual support and liberal
aid OF the community.
The proposition was accepted by four ladies
the Misses Giles from North Carolina, oil
Of whom are graduates, with high: dis.
tinction, in some of the best colleges
OF the land. They purchased five
acre lot In the centre & of the town, on which r
now, in successful operation
FEMALE INSTITUTE
with all the appliances for imparting to their
pupils the benefits to be obtained in our best
institutions. The merit of this institution,
though so recently established, is already re-
ceiving recognition. and Is attracting a large
patronage. Each succeeding session brings
an increase Of pupils from abroad. Its we'll
arranged apartments, and ample Hall vii wi
soon be filled to their full capacity. The
value of such an institution at this time, can
not be too highly appreciated BY the public,
and especially by the locality In which it is
situated. The expenditure of so large an
amount of private funds in the erection of an
dIcates consciousness Of merit which is equal
to the emergency, and its founders deserve
the highest token Of public appreciation. III
is of especial value TO Greenwood as supply
ing an Important factor in the development
OF every town, without which there cannot be
perfect symmetry in its proportions. These
ladies having provided an institution for the
education of the girls, the question of the cd
ucation of the boys now became prominent
There was no academy for them, and the
first thing of importance was 10 provide one
Accordingly, n few public spirited gentlemen,
stimulated by the example already set them
I'm the erection Of the Female College, deter
mined on the erection OF such
MALE ACADEMY
as would meet the requirements Of this grow.
Ing town. They houg Int an eligible lot, and
have completed Il handsome brick building
with recitation rooms and public hall, ready
for the opening exercises OF the next scholas
| tic year.
The erection of these institutions oflcarn
| ing fill up the broad chaSm between the
common school system and the universities
and colleges. While the latter arc with n The
reach Of very few, the common schools are
far too inefficient to be relied on for the edu'
cation Of the youth of the country. The only
practical solution, therefore, of this impOr
| liant problem, Is the establishment OF aschool
of the first grade ut every village and town in
the State for the benefit Of those who arc nm
able to dcfray the expense of college course
With two such institutions as Greenwood
now has, under the efficient management oi
| the Misses Giles in the Female College, and
! Prof G.. G.. Hodges and his assistants In tho
male academy, She is fully equipped for the
education of her youth, and offers rare IN
ducements TO all to rartake with her of tho
thoroughncss Of instruction, exact discipline
health Of locality, cheap board, and rates Of
tuition. Such is a curSOry review OF the Or
gin and early history of Greenwood in refer
cncc to tho prime objects for which she was
locatcd-hcallh and education.